It really depends on height, strongirl. My measurements are slightly bigger than that (besides the bust), and I have never been called any of those words (partially because of my small bust, probably). I'm 5'10", and considered slender-to-average. And many supermodels (also tall), are considered stick-thin at slightly under these measurements (I know this from reading style.com!).

I hate thinking about measurement and sizes, we definitely all need to work towards self-acceptance and self-confidence outside of these molds. I appreciate the honesty in your post and how much you love your body, but I have to admit I cringed when I read the first paragraph of your last post, even as someone who is far from zaftig.

I think the age thing may be coming up again here but to my personal aesthetics, 36-26-36 is not "fantastic". It's too big, everywhere. I think of that figure type as zaftig, cow-like, matronly.

While I embrace diversity and definitely appeciate and love larger women's figures, I have had to work at it. I am stuck with the ideals from the 60's and 70's - Twiggy, Edie Sedgwick, Goldie Hawn in her Laugh-In days. An extra ounce of bodyfat on myself and I feel fat.

There is beauty in every body, I truly believe that. But when I hear you girls bemoan your smallness compared to family members with those big, curvy bodies I just have to notice the difference in my own inner reaction. I feel sorry for them and glad I have a small, tight, athletic body. I would never say anything unkind to them about it and I hope that they feel just as happy with their lot as I do with mine, but that is defiinitely part of my reaction.

I'm not proud of this and I only throw it out here in case it helps any of you view yourselves more favorably. The ideal for all of us would be to stop making negative comparisons, whether we come out ahead or behind.

I have seen the same thing as well, girls with bigger breasts than their mothers. One of my close freinds who is 40 and is a nice C cup has a 15 year old daughter that is a D. And her 14 year old (from her 2nd husband) is already her equal with a C too. These things are simply a result of different things, including nutrition, genetics (you'd be suprised what they can get from even their father's side of the family) or maybe just simple "evolution" for the want of a better word. But I am sure of you have seen your own instances as well.

But my mom does not have antyhting to worry about with me .

I do feel out-boobed at times, but saying that to myself lessens it...sometimes.

I sure wish I had inherited the type of figures on my dad's side of the family! I mean 36-26-38 type figures. They look fantastic!

In a way I dont' feel bad about being out-boobed. If you looked, some of the girls have bigger boobs than their mommas.

That's good that you don't.

I have seen the same thing as well, girls with bigger breasts than their mothers. One of my close freinds who is 40 and is a nice C cup has a 15 year old daughter that is a D. And her 14 year old (from her 2nd husband) is already her equal with a C too. These things are simply a result of different things, including nutrition, genetics (you'd be suprised what they can get from even their father's side of the family) or maybe just simple "evolution" for the want of a better word. But I am sure of you have seen your own instances as well.

I am also trying to catch up with all the posts! I know exactly where you are all coming from, getting annoyed at being out-boobed. I used to actually get mad at the beach, like it was somehow their fault that these 13 year olds had big boobs and were flaunting it in my face. But now I try to appreciate everyone as people (after all, if we are judging so many people on their boobs, then we are just as shallow as the teenage boys who made us feel bad in the first place!) and recognize that we all have beauty, and we all have faults, and in the end it's unimportant. I also look back now and realize how much I got hit on at the beach, but didn't even know it because I refused to believe guys were even looking at my boobless body. If only I had known at the time!

And Starship - I have done a lot of fairly intense upper body work over the last 3 years, and I have found that although my cup size is the same, my proportions are much more balanced and my boobs appear bigger. It really does work, but it takes a while for girls to build up that kind of "bulk." And I don't look at all muscle-y. the key is to build muscle without loosing any fat, because it is only when you loose too much fat that your muscles become defined and start to look manly.

Yes, Summertime, my favorite time of year but it can be tough at the pool or beach. Especially when seeing or being with younger girls that not only have "out-boobed" me but also have those curves and are simply taller and leggier, my 16 year old sister was one of them. But its good that you are dealing with it much better with it Angie, I hope that I can get to the point that your are at now someday.

I also hope that my workout regimen still continues to help me get more shape and curves, I do not want to wind up with "manly definition".

I agree with karategirl, loonydaray - your friend is full of it. First of all what she is saying is completely untrue, and she probably knows it. Why would she, as a lesbian, make stereotypes about lesbians? It's also sad that she would put down any women like that, never mind her "best friend." I don't know why she would even have a reason to say things like that, but it is not just insensitivity - it is clearly mean-spirited. I would find some better friends who appreciate your great boot-ay

I am also trying to catch up with all the posts! I know exactly where you are all coming from, getting annoyed at being out-boobed. I used to actually get mad at the beach, like it was somehow their fault that these 13 year olds had big boobs and were flaunting it in my face. But now I try to appreciate everyone as people (after all, if we are judging so many people on their boobs, then we are just as shallow as the teenage boys who made us feel bad in the first place!) and recognize that we all have beauty, and we all have faults, and in the end it's unimportant. I also look back now and realize how much I got hit on at the beach, but didn't even know it because I refused to believe guys were even looking at my boobless body. If only I had known at the time!

And Starship - I have done a lot of fairly intense upper body work over the last 3 years, and I have found that although my cup size is the same, my proportions are much more balanced and my boobs appear bigger. It really does work, but it takes a while for girls to build up that kind of "bulk." And I don't look at all muscle-y. the key is to build muscle without loosing any fat, because it is only when you loose too much fat that your muscles become defined and start to look manly.

looneydaray, maybe I'm not the first person to say this, but if I were you I would seriously reconsider this woman as your friend. I agree with strongirl that she has some serious insecurities that overshadow any consideration she has for you--the typical "put others down to build me up" thing. Not cool at all. And another thing--lesbians are as diverse in their preferences as men or anyone else. I think I have a similar body type as yours, and I used to see a good amount of interest in it when I was hitting the lesbian clubs. If anything, I found that women appreciated my body--and especially my breasts--more than any man, so IMHO, she's full of it.

lightchested, I used to freelance as a small book publisher, designing and editing self-published paperbook books (like what iUniverse does). If you are seriously interested in publishing, I would be happy to offer advice if you want. I agree that it would make a great book. The VERY interesting slant on your story that sets it apart from others is your motive for getting into the industry--to want to "blow it apart." Your background in women's studies (I believe you said that) and your insights from a feminist point of view is what would really set the story on its ear. I could see your book as required reading in upcoming women's study courses. Just to plant that seed.

looneydaray, you should tell your "best friend" how you feel, just like you did below. She needs to know the effect she is having and I bet she doesn't. It sounds to me like her own insecurities (about being larger, being lesbian - neither of which are exactly embraced in our culture) make her feel better when she puts you down for the opposite qualities. Tell her - for your benefit and hers.

I've been traveling and just got "caught up" here - wowee!!! Some amazing stuff got posted in here. Lightchested's stripper posts and the replies blew me away. Amazing insights. While I do come from more of a pro-porn perspective than some of you, I could not agree more with some of the analysis of the sexism and double standard. And just shining the light on the stuff that never gets talked about is huge.

I agree, Lightchested, you should write a book. There is a similar one out there - "Candy Girl" by Diablo Cody, the same woman who wrote the script for the movie "Juno". It was interesting and funny, but no where near as insightful as your posts, Lightchested. Your posts hit what I kept wanting that book to do but it never quite made it.

edie; that sounds amazing! I would love to do something like that personally (nonsexual nude art)..It's like a way of saying I accept my body without selling it. I hate how when you type 'small breasts' in google you either come up with porn or 'make your breasts look bigger/better'...

Blah. Down day with the tatas. A while back someone posted a link to a blog talking about how skinny women are more frequently made fun of as opposed to curvy women. Now, I wouldn't go so far as to say skinny women have it worse, but I definitely think that it's more acceptable to make fun of a skinny chick. There are movies, books, groups, etc. TONS of support for curvy women. I have never once intentionally made someone feel bad because of their weight. and yet for some reason it's perfectly fine to call naturally skinny girls anorexic, or call them skinny bitch or whatever. I hate how people have to focus on the features that aren't "good." I am constantly pointing out all of the lovely features in my friends, I try my hardest to make them feel good about themselves because I think they are beautiful and so should they. But some of them.. man. Especially my best friend, who I've talked about before. I make light of the fact that I have little breasts when I'm around other chicks, sure. But I expect to either receive playful fun or telling me no way I'm perfect (what I would do for any friend, any woman, period.). But she just takes it to a hurtful level, unintentionally. Today was just awful. Generally it's playful. But today. erg. I can take one comment of 'you have no boobs!' when it's made in jest. But she literally tries to tell me that I have absolutely no breast tissue. But I can assure you while the bump is extremely slight it does exist and it is most definitely a breast. She sat there continually telling me that even my boyfriend has bigger boobs than I do with his pecs. I mean you know what, yeah probably they are. But that's ignoring the fact that he's HUUUUUUGGEEE compared to me in every single possible way! He's a foot taller than me and his ribcage is about three times the size of mine. I'm freaking tiny, so PROPORTIONALLY speaking my boobs would be bigger. But noo. And then even when I mention my butt, and that at least I have that, she just ridicules me and tells me no. Because she's lesbian and she prefers chubby women (which is fine), and that there's no way that my tiny butt (proportionally big on my body) is remotely noticeable. She always tells me that I would be completely unattractive to lesbians in general because I'm skinny (naturally so though). I'm not lesbian so it's not like I'm looking to attract them, but it's still kind of hurtful that I'm automatically not their type because of my body.

Your best friend is supposed to be the person you turn to and they can make you feel beautiful for you. But when I'm with her I feel like all of my insecurities and "faults" are highlighted and put on display. I just don't get it because I've never once done that to her.

I had a weird dream that I saw this woman in a magazine that had had a boob transplant... she decided she wanted big ones, but not "fake," so she got someone's real breasts, like an organ donation. Then she popped out of the magazine and I started playing with her (really really large and perky) boobs, and realized how much fun they were to play with. I decided I wanted some too. However, when I woke up I realized I really didn't want a "boob transplant." A bit bigger, yes. But I rarely worry about it anymore.

I have kidded about "boob transplants" in jest at times but have never dreamt it. Suprised that hasn't happened yet, LOL

IBut I still have not been able to enhance my (32B) bustline even after two years of exercising.

Well, you can build up your chest muscles and thus sculpt the chest area. I have lost weight all over in the past couple of years, which has made my breasts, of course, smaller. Ironically, though, my chest looks better than before since I've also been hitting the chest area with weights. I actually have "cleavage" of sorts! My friend (whose perfectly sized B-cup breasts I envy) envies my muscle cleavage in return. Funny.

And yeah, honeybunch, that's true about your coworker--it seems she won't be happy with herself no matter what. Wow. Someone I know also had at least B-cups and she had hers augmented too. That and the little kiddies with breasts can get me nuts if I let it. Oh well. I must count my blessings. I have other things to be thankful for.

edie52, I wonder if you'd be willing to share any of the photos? Sounds like the guy was a true artist. Very refreshing.

I had a weird dream that I saw this woman in a magazine that had had a boob transplant... she decided she wanted big ones, but not "fake," so she got someone's real breasts, like an organ donation. Then she popped out of the magazine and I started playing with her (really really large and perky) boobs, and realized how much fun they were to play with. I decided I wanted some too. However, when I woke up I realized I really didn't want a "boob transplant." A bit bigger, yes. But I rarely worry about it anymore.

The photo shoot went well- it's strange how quickly I got comfortable after disrobing, as if I were in front of my boyfriend or a doctor. It took about 2 hours. I was mistaken, they weren't taken from a distance, they were actually tight shots of body parts (mostly the torso), all with the head cut out. He was looking a lot at shadows and negative space, trying to abstract the body and also desexualize it (or at least not sexualize it overly like in most images we see, which he admitted was harder with the female form).

ah, im holidaying with some cousins this year. including 13 year olds who already have bigger boobs and look way older than me. hence choice of bikini being oh-so critical. it's strange because ive never felt bad about having smallers breasts than my older cousins, but theres just something irksome about a child 'overtaking' me.

ooh, gap do have some cute bikinis karategrrl. i dont think they deliver to the UK so ill have to check out the store next time im shopping

i remember alot of you knew quite abit about working out so i just wanted to ask whatsort of exercises would help me tone up abit without losing loads of weight. its the first time ive ever put a little weight on and i kinda like it but i could do with just firming up a tad ???

I have seen in my expereince girls as young as 13-14 "overtaking" me as well or at least on the verge of doing so. My latest experience was seeing this with an 11-year old I met. She is a daughter of a friend of one of my girlfriend's. When I met her face to face she was already an inch taller than me and a B cup (34B according to her mom) like me and I was like "whoa!" lol It made me quiver. Her mom is a tall and larger woman, so we all had a good idea of how big she will get when its all said and done.

Regarding diet & excercise, I have started eating a higher protien diet and my workouts include some weight training, espically with weight machines that isolate certain areas of my body. I have seen the best results in leg excercises in my glutes and hips. But I still have not been able to enhance my (32B) bustline even after two years of exercising.

That's awesome. Do let us know how it goes. I've kind of always wanted to do something artsy like that. When I was modeling (brief stint) I hoped to do something along those lines and checked the box for "artistic nude" when I signed up with one of the agencies. Then I got a call from them, saying Playboy was looking for women for a "naturals" special edition. Turns out Playboy and soft-core porn are considered "artistic nudes." Bwah hahahaha!

And no, I said no. I'll live vicariously through you, edie.

Wow! Maybe I should go back to Talent6, and see if Playboy will contact me as well. I will admit, awhile back I' was interested in being body painted.

Okay, I'm trying to wrap my head around this still. I've brought this up before- my one co-worker, one who already has a boob job. She now wants lipo and a nose job. She also wants other surgeries that aren't cosmetic like LASIK. Everything she wants totals $20,000. Not that it's my business, but I wish she could just be happy with the boob job. In a way I'm grateful that I met her b/c it proves having all that surgery doesn't make you happy for the long term.

I also think it's bogus to spend that much money on all that. She admits she had boobs to begin with, she wasn't ever flat chested. If I had even the $4,000 it costed for the boob implants, I'd much rather spend it on a home gym and other sporty stuff!!!

In other news, I'm about to go pose nude for some photos (nothing lewd, it's someone I know from school who is doing slightly abstracted full-body nudes- by abstracted I mean dancer-type body shapes, form a distance). Anyway, even though it's not supposed to be "sexy", I'm still nervous! Eek! But I believe in the cause and want to challenge my self-consciousness.

That's awesome. Do let us know how it goes. I've kind of always wanted to do something artsy like that. When I was modeling (brief stint) I hoped to do something along those lines and checked the box for "artistic nude" when I signed up with one of the agencies. Then I got a call from them, saying Playboy was looking for women for a "naturals" special edition. Turns out Playboy and soft-core porn are considered "artistic nudes." Bwah hahahaha!